The Field of Blood

This millennium has seen a big blooming of solid (mini-)series, often at the expense of films focusing on topics and audiences not to my taste any more. New angles and approaches have been developed or deepened, and distinct performers employed. Being a vast country with numerous distinct folks and regions, the UK has an endless potential to "fit in" crimes into dozens of places where local and tourists can have their joy of recognition.

The Field of Blooda takes us into the 1980ies Glasgow, when the biggest technical facilitators for both the police and journalism were pagers and then unconnected PCs... On the other hand, you could smoke and drink almost everywhere and a lot :) The crimes were still severe, and journalists have always had to "be creative" for obtaining information, but the world in those days was rather reserved than open.

Apparently the atmosphere is well created and the characters realistic, but the leading performance (Jayd Johnson as Paddy Meehan) fell down on two smaller performances - David Morrissey as Murray Devlin and Peter Capaldi as Dr. Pete Walker, particularly in dialogues. Thus "only" 7 points from me, as I have recently seen UK crime series more versatile and interesting, e.g. Shetland, What Remains, Luther, and others.

In the first series (2 episodes), as an entertainment I found the offensive language and misogynous attitude towards the lead character gratuitous and unnecessary.

Realising the error of their ways there was a complete change in David Morrisey's character for the second series of 2, but the damage was done.

Overall it was largely uninteresting and the female lead's character wish of being a proper journalist, not like "them" in in the press room (the males, that is), did not come to fruition as she was as bad as them in the end. Nothing gets in the way of a story and the lengths one will go to to get it.

Why are there these great mini series made years without another season leaving us hanging? Good acting and interesting stories just wasted for some other tripe that's on I don't get it?

Arghhh! I only just discovered this by trawling through BBC Scotland and was intrigued as I love crime drama. This was absolutely brilliant over four episodes and finishes to give us ample plot lines to continue. Why oh why oh why do we have no more as relationships are just building? The main characters are superbly profiled and the tension and subversive battles during the miners strike of the 80's and beyond is brilliantly portrayed. Shock of the new overlaps with the old tradition and like two juggernauts collide. It's fantastic stuff but so, so brief. I suppose the argument could be that it's fitting as it exploded with so much verve and power that it needed no more. I'd not read any of the books this is based on but will search them out as I'm completely hooked. Just sorry this was all done on TV eight years ago and I missed it. Well done to all involved and to BBC Scotland for reshooting. Pure class!

Paddy Meehan lands a job as a journalist, and quickly gets entangled in a murder. In a man's world, she battles against sexism and misogyny.

It's a real shame that this wasn't further developed, this show definitely had some mileage. The first episode, The Field of Blood, was terrific, it has so much content. The second two parter isn't the same standard I think, but it's still very good, it was great to see the show return.

Jayd Johnson is excellent throughout as Paddy, I am stunned that she hasn't had a prolific career since, I think she's excellent.

There was some terrific acting, David Morrissey and Peter Capaldi in particular were terrific. I also really liked Bronagh Gallagher as Paddy's mum.

It's very well produced, it looks marvellous, they really capture the visuals of the 1980's, and okay some cracking music too.

I wish there were more if them, 8/10.